I understand how some people are afraid of change however if you keep doing the same thing you are going to keep getting the same results. As a member of one of the first USAC clubs here in Ohio and having really enjoyed this year of racing I would tell those who are nervous to go for it and quit being scared. I dont know what kind of issues your clubs are dealing with down there on a local level but I can imagine that some of you got a feel for QMA at the Eastern Grands this year, I have heard the stories. I hope your whole region goes USAC as well,I would like to go south and race some next summer just for the experience on some different tracks. I would also like to run the fall nationals as well. If the spec tire is a concern to anyone it shouldn't be , this has been proven time and again and has been discussed on several threads here and I think everyone agrees that the Hoosiers have proven to be just as good or better and last much longer than the others.Not to mention they will save you a lot of money in the long run.Plus they are made in the U.S.A.Good luck to all and hope to see your clubs listed on here soon.

When we were discussing whether to go USAC or stay QMA there were a lot of people that wanted to know what other clubs were going to do... We decided as a club that we had to make the best decision for us and we couldn't make the decision based on what we thought others were going to do.

People seem to think a lot of clubs may be waiting to see what we did as well. Well we went USAC and from what it sounds like around here we made the right decision...

I am a member at the TN track. We have been talking about what to do for several months now, and more people are coming on board with considering USAC. The spec tire and growing costs to be competitive seem to be really be driving it. I personally am very interested, but there are those that have close ties with QMA and are not wanting to consider it. They unfortunately are only bringing up negative things that they have heard to play it down. They continue to complain about the "for profit" aspect of USAC. They have spoken of low car counts at USAC events and promises to clubs not being kept by the organization. This information supposedly coming from people at tracks that have converted to USAC that are unhappy and want to go back to QMA. I have not personally had any real issues with QMA, but I want to do what gives my kid the best environment to race in. After this season, I am not a big fan of judging as we have experienced a lot of bad calls being made and a lot of "no calls" being made for certain people. We would prefer to race the way we want to be raced and leave the politics out as much as possible. Judging also slows up the race day considerably, constantly waiting for judges,etc. If I understand the way USAC is set up, there are no judges which sounds good to me.

I would appreciate any information from experiences with USAC and anything that will help convince us it's the right choice. What makes it better than QMA? I can tell it will be a tight vote and all the information we can have to make our decision the better.

I have raced at your track several times and even used the USAC Hoosiers against vegas there this summer. The tires still looked new after running there and they were 4 races old already. We were very competitive. That alone would be a good reason to go USAC. You do not have hardly any DECO cars, so the new Animal platform would be an affordable option for guys wanting more power.I have been a QMA member since 06 and would not hesitate to change to USAC. You still have to have members step up to work. But it is "Real" racing. Might as well teach the kids how it is going to be when they graduate to the "next" level. The National Board for QMA is for profit. Some of them profit alot from keeping the dinosaur called a Deco around. Nashville will never host a grands because of the parking situation. So really you have nothing to lose. Plus the benefit of increased car counts from the Ohio members coming to race with you.

"They continue to complain about the "for profit" aspect of USAC." - Your club can stay a non-profit organization so I don't see how that has anything to do with it. I don't know specifically if USAC is for profit or not, but more important to me is they are all about racing at many different levels.

"They have spoken of low car counts at USAC events" - It was year one and there were what, 10 - 12 clubs in USAC? QMA pretends USAC doesn't exist (check the minutes from the last conference call - other racing organization), but if USAC keeps chipping away at clubs those car counts will go nowhere but up. Speaking of car counts, wasn't the car count at the fall Nationals low compared to years past and currently there are less than 60 cars registered for the LIl500 QMA event. Car counts are low everywhere because so is cashflow.

"...and promises to clubs not being kept by the organization. This information supposedly coming from people at tracks that have converted to USAC that are unhappy and want to go back to QMA." - If that was true, why haven't those clubs gone back to QMA now that 2009 is over? Don't let anyone tell you because QMA won't let them because that is BS. If a club wanted to go back they would welcome them with open arms because it would be a slam to "the other racing organization".

Don't let the negative opinions sway you or anyone you knows decision making process. Make it based on facts. That is why I think what North Georgia is doing right now is the right thing to do. Form a committee to get all the facts and make an informed decision either way.

I will tell you my biggest concern with USAC going into 2010 (I have communicated this to James already) is the issue with the Thailand 160 engine. I believe USAC needs to find a way to approve it so people can run it because there are going to be people running both QMA and USAC and they are going to end up having to buy 4 160 engines in order for their kids to race 160 for both sanctioning bodies. I believe if USAC wants to show their members they want to truly keep their costs down, they will find a way to make it work.

Our family have been QM racers since 2002 and have been to a lot of major events including the Eastern Grands, the Gasoline Alley events, and most all the major USAC races this year. We've raced at the TN track a couple of times as well. I am a past QMA club president. Our club went USAC this past season and we had fun racing again this year. While at the club level you do have to flag and be a chief steward, at the USAC Gen Next races you actually were able to relax, had time to work on your cars, and most times were done racing at an early enough time to enjoy dinner with family and friends. If you're involved in an incident on the track you're going to the tail along with any other car(s) that were involved. If it was blatent the offending car gets a strike, if it wasn't blatent all cars involved get a strike. Regardless, everyone goes to the tail. The drivers learn quickly they need to race clean. Is it perfect? There is no such thing as perfect in racing, especially kids racing. USAC allows flexibility at the club level which is good for the clubs. The raceceivers have also been a huge safety improvement as well as a time saver.QMA was once the only game in town but now there is another option and it is worth a look. We have a lot of memories racing with QMA over the years but this past season was one of the best and it was with USAC. Remember your club is its own entity. Neither QMA or USAC own your club. QMA and USAC are sanctioning bodies only and should not dictate what should or should not be in you club bylaws. I believe all of the clubs that went USAC in 2009 have decided to renew with USAC for 2010. USAC continues to add clubs for the 2010 racing season. Best of luck to your club in your decision.

As a member of a USAC club here in Ohio I don't recall having heard anyone at any track or race all summer long talk about going back to QMA.In fact I only heard praise and support for USAC and people talking about how much more fun racing was this year.As stated in the previous post Neither QMA or USAC own your clubs, the clubs are its members and USAC will allow each club flexibility. The new animal classes are going to be huge in the future as the expensive antique Deco's die out,I know we will never own one quite simply because they are just a pain in the rear. As far as the Thailand 160's I hope USAC keeps them out so us USAC guys can buy up all the QMA motors at a discount price.

"The United States Auto Club (USAC) was founded in 1955 as a not-for-profit auto race santioning organization with the purpose of developing rules and specifications for the sport, providing qualified officials for the conduct of its events and in general, instituting an organized framework for the race participants and race organizers."

I think what everybody is not looking at here is that QMA or USAC does not own a QM track. You do not have to be sanctioned by anybody. Look at the tracks in Pa. Call them outlaw, inlaws, or just independent. As far as USAC, they are a non profit corporation. But people there do draw a salary, which is perfectly legit. Bob Dole's wife drew a $250,000.00 salary for the Red Cross and it is non profit. As far as QMA being for "profit", I see your point. But shame on the members for voting these guys and gals in. Yes I know , a lot of you did not get to vote this year. I'm talking about the last ten years! Remember, racing QMs is supposed to be family fun. If you are running so your kid can be the next superstar, get a life. Yes some will make it. But you are more likely to get struck by lightning.

listen folks you that have raced QMA know what you and your members will get the same youve been getting for years half truths from QMA or none funtional RDs that forget they ran for that title ....why not try something new thats what we looked at and decided for our track and our kids that if USAC does half or even a 1/4 of what they say thats more than QMA if not than your just in the same OL Crap nothing ventured nothing lost as far as the thiland motors its not keeping cost down if you are forced to buy a new motor just to compete....

as far as the thiland motors its not keeping cost down if you are forced to buy a new motor just to compete....

so do away with hondas? then you have to buy a animal that cost 1250.00-1450.00.no savings there. absolete the thousands of hondas out there?all new people must buy used honda motors? is that fair? im not sure. all i know is the thai motors ran at the mv gnext race that got moved from st. louis did not impress me at all. i think we need to realize we need to give a little more credit to driver and set up. not sure where to go with this, just my thoughts.